cosmic carousal

2008-08-23T11:20:00.002-03:00

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

2008-07-09T07:29:00.008-03:00

The Spagnostics and the Pastafarians follow the Spaghedeity and believe in the sanctity of pirates. What's not to like?!

More info: Homepage: http://www.venganza.org/

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

Sept 19th is coming fast.

It's been 46 years in the making...

2008-07-08T07:27:00.007-03:00

... but Jesus has finally come out with a rebuttal to John Lennon.

Lennon had made very controversial comments back in 1966 regarding the waning popularity of Jesus and the Catholic church.

Jesus had been slow to reply, first allowing Republicans to have their say. But it turned out the Beatles were more popular than Republicans and the sarcasm of Lennon's comments was allowed to be understood. Lennon's comments soon drifted into popular culture...

... and then even into academic culture, as hippies soon became professors. (Yes, you need this for a quality education.)

But with the death of George Carlin, who made a few suggestions for Jesus' reply as the priest in Dogma, Jesus has released this statement:

"Who's bigger than Jesus now, John?! Who's bigger than Jesus now?"

A 441 Word Alliteration on the letter W

2008-07-07T21:30:00.004-03:00

The following story, entitled Winnie and Walter, was published sometime in the 19th century by an unknown author. It's a bit of a tongue twister. And it might not make sense on one read (so read it again, Scallywag)

Winnie and Walter

“Warm weather, Walter! Welcome warm weather! We were wishing winter would wane, weren’t we?” “We were well wearied with waiting,” whispered Waiter wearily. Wan, white, woe-begone was Walter; wayward, wilful, worn with weakness, wasted, waxing weaker whenever winter’s wild, withering winds were wailing. Wholly without waywardness was Winifred, Walter’s wise, womanly watcher, who, with winsome, wooing way, was well-beloved.

“We won’t wait, Walter; while weather’s warm we’ll wander where woodlands wave, won’t we?”

Walter’s wanton wretchedness wholly waned. “Why, Winnie, we’ll walk where we went when we were with Willie; we’ll weave wildflower wreaths, watch woodmen working; woodlice, worms wriggling; windmills whirling; watermills wheeling; we will win wild whortleberries, witness wheat winnowed.”

Wisbeach woods were wild with wildflowers; warm, westerly winds whispered where willows were waving; wood-pigeons, wrens, woodpeckers were warbling wild woodnotes. Where Wisbeach water-mill’s waters, which were wholly waveless, widened, were waterlilies, waxen white. Winifred wove wreaths with woodbine, whitehorn, wallflowers; whilst Walter whittled wooden wedges with willow wands.

Wholly without warning, wild wet winds woke within Wisbeach woods, whistling where Winifred wandered with Walter; weeping willows were wailing weirdly; waging war with wind-tossed waters. Winifred’s wary watchfulness waked.

“Walter, we won’t wait.”
“Which way, Winnie?”

Winifred wavered. “Why, where were we wandering? Wisbeach woods widen whichever way we walk. Where’s Wisbeach white wicket, where’s Winston’s water-mill?”

WistfuIly, Walter witnessed Winifred’s wonder. “Winnie, Winnie, we were wrong, wholly wrong; wandering within wild ways. Wayfaring weather-beaten waifs, well-nigh worn-out.”

Winifred waited where, within wattled woodwork walls, waggons, wheelbarrows, wains were waiting, weighty with withered wood. Walter, warmly wrapped with Winifred’s well-worn wadded waterproof, was wailing woefully, wholly wearied. Winnie, who, worn with watching, well-nigh weeping, was wistfully, wakefully waiting Willie’s well-known whistle, wholly wished Walter’s well-being warranted.

With well-timed wisdom, Walter was wound with wide, worsted wrappers, which wonderfully well withstood winter’s withering, whistling winds. Wholly without warm wrappers was Winifred, who, with womanly wisdom, was watching Walter’s welfare, warding Walter’s weakness.

“When will Willie wend where we wait?” wearily wondered Walter.
“Whist, Walter,” whispered Winnie, “who was whooping?”
“Whereabouts?”

Welcome whistling was waking Wisbeach woods when winter’s windy warfare waxed weaker.

“Winnie! Walter!”

Winifred’s wakefulness was well-grounded. “We’re well, Willie; we’re where Winston’s waggons wait.”

Without waiting, Willie was within Winston’s woodwork walls.

“Welcome, welcome, Willie.” Winnie was weeping with weariness with watching Walter, weak with wayfaring.

“Why Winnie! Wise, watchful, warm-hearted Winnie,” Willie whispered wheedlingly. “We won’t weep; Walter’s well. What were Walter without Winnie?”

Wholly wonderful was Winifred’s well-timed womanly wisdom, which well warranted weakly Walter’s welfare. Whenever wandering within Wisbeach woods with Winnie, Walter would whisper, “What were Walter without Winnie? Wise, watchful, warm-hearted Winnie!”

The Church of Vader

2008-07-03T20:57:00.002-03:00

Who knew sunscreen could be scary

2008-07-03T11:39:00.004-03:00

This is not cool. Especially since I already bought my sunscreen quota for the summer.

Many Sunscreens Ineffective, Group SaysAdvocacy Group Says Many Popular Sunscreens Offer Inadequate Sun Protection, Calls On FDA To Implement Label Changes
(WebMD) An environmental research and advocacy group claims that four out of five brand-name sunscreens either provide inadequate sun protection or contain chemicals that may be unsafe, but industry representatives strongly dispute the charge.... (continue)

There is a list of the different products they believe to be 'safe' at the bottom of the article. Scallywag.

Rod Stewart Story of the Month

2008-07-03T09:21:00.003-03:00

Let us pretend this was a few days ago.

Rod Stewart is Mad about Models. And Not the Kind he's Been Known to Marry.
by jgr80

Rod Stewart, or Mr. Stewart (as he's known to his butler), has an unhealthy obsession with model trains. In the December 2007 issue of Model Railroader, Stewart said "It means more to me to be on the cover of Model Railroader than to be on the cover of a music magazine."

during a 63-show North American tour in 2007, Stewart relocated his wife Penny Lancaster, the couple's toddler son Alistair, and seven massive traveling cases of model kits and tools to a suite of rooms in Chicago. From this central location, he flew to each night's show. After the performance, a limo would rush him back to the airport where his private jet would be waiting. After a quick flight back to Chicago and a few hours rest, Stewart would be up bright and early and busy at his model railroad workbench. Stewart said he could usually manage a few hours of steady model building each morning before setting aside his tools and spending the remainder of the day with his wife and son.

This is the rockstar lifestyle people dream of... I mean who needs to sleep when you get to spend more time with the models you build instead of the models you marry. Dude is compensating for something.

The guy has a 23 x 124-foot (2852 sq ft?!?!) 1940s version model railway of the New York and Pennsylvania Railroads in his California home. AND he has the East Coast British line in his UK home.

This video is from the fellas who did the article. I really don't even have to say anything about it. It makes fun of itself.

This just in.

2008-07-03T08:39:00.003-03:00

These quickie news channels really need more communication between the ad department and the news department.

Happy Canada Day, Mats Sundin.

2008-07-01T06:11:00.006-03:00

by jgr80

For some Canadians (I certainly feel a divide on this one), July 1st is a day to celebrate for a reason other than our nation's birth.

Those same Canadians may also be quite upset for the same reason.... Perplexed? Well, clearly it's unrestricted free agent day in the NHL. Something nearly as important as Canada Day to die-hard hockey fans.

Now a lot of people will be talking about Marian Hossa. A lot of people will be talking about Brian Campbell... and while I like both of these players, don't be fooled. The big name is my boy Mats.

I've had a lot of people annoy the crap out of me the last two weeks or so with the silly dialogue about Mats vs. TML vs. Montreal Girlymen. The headline and a few sentences in this article from this morning suggest Mats won't sign with Montreal, although there is clearly some doubt in the rest of the article. Hell, we may find out in the next couple of hours.

Well, I quite like the graceful slide of a Sundin stride down the ice towards a Montreal net. That is, while he's playing offense for the Leafs, rather than defense for Les Habitants (which is stupidest name in all of professional sports... even worse than all those silly Major League soccer teams like the New York Red Bulls, or the Columbus Crew, or the Football Club Dallas).

No. I will take the high-road on this one. Mats is/was an excellent player for Toronto and does/did a lot of great things for the team. The only negative thing I will say is that if he signs with Montreal he is a scum-sucking vaginoplasty patient who deserves to burn for deserting-- nay betraying-- the cause of all-things-Montreal-must-perish-from-horrible-sports-related-injuries. You already found out early in your career Quebec is not the place for a Swede. If you don't play for Toronto, go somewhere else or may all the wrath of Toronto fans follow you around like a plague throughout the league. There will be curses laid on all things Sundin and all things Montreal throughout the land. The permanent place you've earned among the verdant fields of Elysium will be replaced by the 8th circle of Hell.

But I'm not bitter.

In Korea, there are far too many people of the same name for Westerners to keep things straight. So rather than embarrass myself while I was teaching over there-- just like all the other teachers-- I gave them Western names. I named a lot of them after friends and family... named a lot of them after cartoon characters and comic book characters... but my favorite little guy didn't get an English at all. He was of Swedish-Korean decent and was named Mats. He didn't know a word of English when he started. He knew at least 13 words a lesson.

It would be a cold day in Elysium if I were not able to cheers for Mats Sundin.

More goals than Teemu Selanne, Ron Francis, Rocket Richard, Jean Beliveau, or Daryl Sittler.
More assists than Chris Chelios, Niklas Lidstrom, Larry Robinson, or Jean Beliveau.
None of it means a thing with that other sweater on.

$7 a gallon in US? So like $2 a litre in Canada?

2008-06-27T06:36:00.004-03:00

OOOH Snap! I guess not having a car because of having no money all these years was really the smartest idea after all. That's right. Snap.

As oil hits $140, a new low for Detroit

GREG KEENAN

From Friday's Globe and Mail

June 26, 2008 at 9:02 PM EDT

Chrysler LLC trotted out celebrated retired chairman Lee Iacocca to rally employee spirits on Thursday, but investors were more interested in bankruptcy rumours that continued to haunt the auto maker and yet another fresh high for energy prices that are pounding the entire industry...

...The Detroit auto makers are reeling from a collapse in sales of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles in the U.S. market amid gasoline prices above $4 a gallon and the U.S. real estate collapse.

It could get even worse, CIBC World Markets Inc. economists Jeff Rubin and Benjamin Tal warned Thursday, saying that gasoline could surge to $7 a gallon, which will cause Americans to abandon some of their vehicles and send sales through the floor.

What we need here is some real initiative and imagination.

That's the one. Only the best news gathering skills.

And so what if I was gone for a few days.

A possible answer to the sneaky sea sneakers... with feet in BC?

2008-06-21T17:19:00.005-03:00

I bet the B.C. Coastal feet come from Russia. I've heard the mob over there is particularly brutal.

Check this out.

Cows Ice Cream named Best in the World.

2008-06-21T16:35:00.009-03:00

Chewing the frozen cud...

Cows Ice Cream -- an Island staple since 1983-- was recently named "Best in the World" by Tauck World Discovery.

Notice the description of why it's better than the others.

The ice cream has "high-quality ingredients and a lusciously high butterfat content (16%) to craft rich, whimsically-themed flavors."

Mmmm, I loves me some butterfat. That sounds so appetizing.

In fact, me gonna have some right now.

The last thing Obama needs is to discriminate.

2008-06-19T10:56:00.003-03:00

by jgr80

Given the charged debate around racial and gender lines during the primaries, Obama might be treading on thin ice with this...

Workers Bar Muslim Women From Obama Backdrop

Posted Jun 18, 08 2:53 PM CDT in Politics
(Newser) – Two Muslim women were barred from sitting behind Barack Obama during a rally Monday, with campaign volunteers concerned about headscarves appearing on TV and in pictures, Politico reports. (continue...)

Isn't he campaigning on the promise of change?! This seems like the status quo political positioning. What kind of change is he looking for if not an end to stereotypes? What about the stereotype that a black man can't be President? Just a little hypocritical.

Although he is still the lesser of two evils.

Man caught bringing 9 grams of marijuana into prison wrapped around penis claims misunderstanding.

2008-06-19T10:08:00.005-03:00

Every once and a while, there is some interesting news in Nova Scotia.

Police catch man who hid marijuana around penis

PAUL MCLEOD, METRO HALIFAX

June 17, 2008 05:00

Getting caught with marijuana by police is bad enough. But the drug arrest of John Christopher Williams, 34, was particularly embarrassing.
Williams has a lengthy criminal record and had failed to show up for court dates more than once, leading to a warrant for his arrest. When police found and arrested him they didn’t find any drugs on him and Williams didn’t say anything.
It was only when he was being checked in to prison that guards discovered nine grams of marijuana wrapped around his penis. Williams says it was all a misunderstanding.
He appeared yesterday in Dartmouth Provincial Court under charges of smuggling drugs into prison.
His lawyer said Williams now realizes he should have told police about the pot sooner. He was sentenced to thirty days in prison.

Hhhmmm... a clever one-liner to appropriately make fun and demonstrates insight....

'During the frisking, guards found the drugs when Williams got a spliffy.'

Yup, that oughta do it.

I always heard the best pot was in jail, anyway. Listen to Ricky about 30 sec into the clip.

The coolest thing ever contest has a winner.

2008-06-18T02:00:00.000-03:00

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

This has to be a joke.

2008-06-17T15:30:00.002-03:00

Another foot finds its way to the BC shoreline.

CNEWS reports:

Fifth human foot in one year washes ashore along B.C. coast
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER - A fifth human foot has washed ashore in southwestern B.C., and this time it's a left one.

Police say two people out for a walk spotted a left foot floating in water off Westham Island on Monday morning. Four other feet have washed up on shorelines along islands in B.C. in the last year; all have been right feet wearing socks and shoes. (continue...)

Looks like they will have to reopen the case of the sneaky washed up sneakers... with feet.

"If you build them, we will put them in jail."

2008-06-16T18:00:00.001-03:00

by jgr80

The International Centre for Prison Studies released this graphic last week in their annual report. The darker the red, the more citizens incarcerated per capita.

Four regions have more than 500 prisoners per 100,000 people: Bahamas, Belarus, Russia, and the United States.

The first three have political issues that really put them in a different class than the United States. Democratic and human rights are hurting in the first three countries. So much so, that it might not be surprising to see so many people arrested within their borders.

This doesn't explain why the U.S. has so many prisoners.

What the graphic doesn't show is that the U.S. could be in its own category. A year ago, Glenn Loury reported:

"According to a 2005 report of the International Centre for Prison Studies in London, the United States—with five percent of the world’s population—houses 25 percent of the world’s inmates. Our incarceration rate (714 per 100,000 residents) is almost 40 percent greater than those of our nearest competitors (the Bahamas, Belarus, and Russia)." (continue...)

Could it be that there is an angry, overly-aggressive, inherently different citizenry south of the border? Unlikely.

Loury continued,

"imprisonment rates have continued to rise while crime rates have fallen because we have become progressively more punitive: not because crime has continued to explode (it hasn’t), not because we made a smart policy choice, but because we have made a collective decision to increase the rate of punishment."

It's fairly well-known that crime rates in the United States have fallen in the last two decades. Not only has it been reported on widely in the news, but incredibly thoughtful analyses have appeared in The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and in Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner.

The rising number of prisoners has also been reported on, but not nearly with the same vigor.

Loury continues,

"We have a corrections sector that employs more Americans than the combined work forces of General Motors, Ford, and Wal-Mart, the three largest corporate employers in the country, and we are spending some $200 billion annually on law enforcement and corrections at all levels of government, a fourfold increase (in constant dollars) over the past quarter century."

Money.

The money has given rise to private interests in the corrections system. I first heard about this last year in a documentary, although it's not the newest of developments. The documentary cited the stiff penalties for drug violations as the primary reason for the rise, while also saying that the privatized prison industry is the fastest growing industry in the U.S.

The privatization of U.S. prisons became significant in the early 90s. It's just been kept on the down-lo because of the obvious shady politics involved. (The same process has begun in Canada in the last few years.)

The incarceration system and process is paid for by the federal government in the U.S. The profits are gained by the private sector. No wonder there are more prisoners than ever before.

In December 1998, Eric Schlosser wrote in The Atlantic:

"The prison-industrial complex is not only a set of interest groups and institutions. It is also a state of mind. The lure of big money is corrupting the nation's criminal-justice system, replacing notions of public service with a drive for higher profits. The eagerness of elected officials to pass tough-on-crime legislation -- combined with their unwillingness to disclose the true costs of these laws -- has encouraged all sorts of financial improprieties."

Privatized prisons raise concerns about treatment, facilities, and staffing.

I wonder who thought this was a good idea... mixing the public good with private interests. The more jails the U.S. builds, the more people they put behind bars.

Further Reading: The Washington Post

The Incredible Hulk

2008-06-15T09:36:00.006-03:00

by jgr80

The Hulk, in terms of a superhero character, is, by all means, incredible. As a character.

The current manifestations of the Hulk on the big screens, however, are anything but. These movies are clear examples of why screen adapters should not stray from the comic book storylines with this character. Other comic book movies generally keeping the plot of their comic books.

The Hulk's generally accepted powers include: a) Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability; b) a Regenerative healing factor; and c) genius level intellect (in certain incarnations).

One of his powers has never extreme temporary gigantism or extreme acrobatic ability. The special effects in the movies make the character silly.

Exhibit A:

The new Edward Norton movie trailer:

Exhibit B:

The 2003 Eric Bana movie trailer:

The charm of the older character to the imaginations in us all was that it was somewhat believable that some unknown scientific experiment could create a Hulk.

Note that a clear sign of a growing shit-factor in these movies is that Marvel is making two completely different movies based on the same character within 5 years of one another. The first one couldn't have been farther off the mark. The new one doesn't go far enough from the first one.

Exhibit C:

The land of cartoons has no rules. They don't agree with gravity. They don't agree with physics. And even without such rules, there were not ludicrous growth spurts or mile long jumps with the original character. The Hulk is not supposed to be 30 feet tall. He's not supposed to be able to jump across counties.

The new incarnations just don't have the same charm, nor nearly as catchy a theme song.

Tax Freedom Day

2008-06-13T11:37:00.004-03:00

From today's Globe and Mail:

Saturday is Tax Freedom Day

The Canadian Press

June 13, 2008 at 7:31 AM EDT

VANCOUVER — Tax freedom day — the day average Canadians have paid off the year's tax load and begin working for themselves — arrives Saturday, according to the Fraser Institute.

The free-market-oriented think-tank said today that governments are letting the citizenry keep four days' worth of earnings more than last year. (continue...)

I don't want to say too much about this article. Most of the comments are positive. But look at the paragraphs near the bottom of the article.

The Fraser Institute calculates that the average Canadian family of two or more will earn $90,678 this year and pay $40,667 in taxes — 44.8 per cent of total income.

Nearly half of the work we do all year goes to the government?!?! That's half way to communism. What a racket.

To Be Sleep Deprived

2008-06-12T17:56:00.006-03:00

by jgr80

I'm an insomniac. Yawn.

It comes and goes. Usually for not much longer than a week. It can downright awful. Days sometimes ooze into one another painfully, both physically and mentally. Or sometimes it's just annoying. I try to sleep and it just doesn't work, although the next day I feel fine. Except for the constant yawning that follows me around. Yawn after yawn.

People think I'm not paying proper attention to them. Yawn. That they are boring me or something. Yawn. I have to explain that I didn't sleep well, which always sounds like a lie to someone who thinks they are boring you. But yawns are contagious, so they usually yawn, too.

My most recent bout of insomnia came earlier this week. After a quite successful band practice, my ears were ringing with the sound of bagpipes and flat drums well into the night. I was feeling energized. And then it was time to sleep and I was still energized. I didn't sleep that night. Yawned all the next day. Yawn after yawn.

Have you yawned yet? That's what I was going for by repeating 'yawn' so many times. And for the pictures.

Anyhow, the insomnia went on for a few days until last night. I was at the point yesterday afternoon where I couldn't do much of anything. So I vegged on the couch and went to bed real early.

During these few days, I noticed a few articles that popped up on Digg and Delicious. Having never gone to the doctor about my insomnia I figured reading something might be useful.

It was not.

These internet 'lifehacks' can be profoundly amusing in their deliberate obviousness.

Here is such a self-help article from EurekaAlert.org. Just in case you have no interest in clicking on the link, one of their tips for the insomniac is to "get a full night's sleep every night" ?!?!?!?!?! (Multiple interrobangs added for effect).

I wonder if the author had to go to Yale for that topical gem.

Here is another one I found from Time Magazine. Again, if you aren't interested in clicking on things despite surfing the internet, the gist of this article suggests that it's healthy to have between 6.5 and 7.5 hours of sleep a night and that veering to either side of this window is bad.

Memories of digital clocks blinking "12:00" race through my head. I've never felt so energized as the moment I wake up and realize the power went out the night before and my alarm clock has reset. One time, I got to my first year philosophy exam an hour and a bit late.... I ended up nearly failing the class. However, showing up late to the exam had no bearing on this since I was well finished ahead of the bell. One of the first ones finished actually, as I recall. Maybe this is why I almost failed. I didn't like philosophy until my fourth year.

Regardless, since we've already established that clicking on things is too difficult for the sleep depraved, I will embed this video. I find it unhelpful to the insomniac, self-proclaimed or not. It is quite funny though, even if it's not trying to be. Especially the wallpaper images at 1:34 and 2:17... they just don't make sense. Enjoy.

More Cell Phones

2008-06-12T07:24:00.005-03:00

As a follow up to yesterday. This was in the New York Times today. My phone (Motorola V3c) must be somewhere in the middle as it's not on either list.

How Much Radiation Does Your Phone Emit?

The technology news site CNET has compiled two interesting lists showing which cellphones give off the most and the least radiation.

In publishing the information, CNET editors note the data aren’t meant to imply that cellphone radiation poses a risk, nor is it meant to say that the phones are safe. As I recently reported in my Well column last week, the data on cellphone safety is mixed, although a few recent international studies have suggested a link with three types of brain tumors. The Food and Drug Administration also says there’s not enough information to determine conclusively whether cellphones are safe or unsafe.

The charts focus on the specific absorption rate, or SAR, of a cellphone, which is a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency energy that is absorbed by the body, according to CNET.

For a phone to pass F.C.C. certification, that phone’s maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 W/kg (watts per kilogram). In Europe, the level is capped at 2 W/kg, while Canada allows a maximum of 1.6 W/kg. The SAR level listed in our charts represents the highest SAR level with the phone next to the ear as tested by the F.C.C. Keep in mind that it is possible for the SAR level to vary between different transmission bands and that different testing bodies can obtain different results. Also, it’s possible for results to vary between different editions of the same phone (such as a handset that’s offered by multiple carriers).

Four Motorola phones top the list, with the V195s putting out the maximum 1.6 W/kg. The popular BlackBerry Curve 8330 rounds out the No. 5 spot. To see the full top 10 list, click here.

The list of lowest-radiation cellphones includes the LG KG800 and the Motorola Razr V3x, which put out 0.135 W/kg and 0.14 W/kg, respectively. To see all the lowest radiation phones, click here.

If you don’t see your phone on the list, the site includes lists of cellphones by brand name. My iPhone was listed under “other” brands, but I was interested to learn that its SAR number is 0.974.

None of this seems like enough radiatin to pop popcorn in a non-enclosed space. I wonder how they pulled that off.

This is your brain on cell phones

2008-06-11T14:45:00.002-03:00

This is your brain.

This is your brain on cell phones.

hmm... these might not be the best things to put next to your head after all.

Amusing bush Pole

2008-06-11T11:16:00.006-03:00

MSNBC is conducting a poll about whether or not President Bush should be impeached. Check it.

MSNBC seems to be becoming more and more leftish as we get closer to a Democrat being in the Oval office. Too bad the Dems aren't left enough themselves to ever impeach a President, even with such a clear mandate.

Here's Olbermann

Fox News

2008-06-10T00:52:00.005-03:00

Rupert Murdoch is basically Conrad Black on crack. Whether he meant to or not, in this video he admits that he tries to shape news content to fit an agenda rather than to tell a story the way it happens.

Here is a documentary about the Mr. Murdoch, and more than enough reasons to question everything he stands for.

A New (U.S.) Order?

2008-06-07T10:20:00.016-03:00

by jgr80

If you are age 46 or less and from the United States, you have never voted in a Presidential election that has not had a Bush or a Clinton running on the ticket.

With Creepy Hilldog out of the race, the 2008 Presidential election in the United States puts an end to two incredible dynasties. That is, if Barack doesn't choose her as his veep.

It's taken its effect on voters.

"Obama picked the right campaign slogan talking about change. I think the US is in desperate need of change not just in relation to who is running the country but also in rebuilding its identity on the world stage," says Liam Hyland, 31, of New York, NY.

Somehow two of the most dysfunctional families under the media spotlight continue to have a stranglehold on world affairs. I mean, clearly, they are full of integrity,they are honest, they are articulate, and honest.

In the early '70s, universal voting age in the U.S. was entrenched as 18 years old (it would have been interesting if it had been 8 years old).

If you were 15 years old in the last election without a Bush or a Clinton, that would be the youngest age you could be and still in the next election. Senior Bush first ran as veep to Reagan in 1980 (and won). So if you were 15 in 1977, today you would be 46. That's a long time with very little in the way of democratic choice. Heck, even if they had Blacks and Hispanics and Women and no Bushies or Clinties on the tickets before now, you still only have two parties.

The CIA estimates that the median age in the US is 36 point something. Get rid of all the youngins and that number jumps to around 43 ("youngins" denotes those aged under 15. Quite obviously, since we're talking about voting age, 18 would be a better number to use... but the CIA doesn't have that info as readily available. So there is a bit of an aberration here). The average voter in the United States doesn't know life without a Bush or a Clinton on the ticket-- without Bush or a Clinton at the head of the table.

This data is not scientific by any means, but by these statistics, it seems that the US is one of the most politically inexperienced countries in the world. This couldn't be exemplified any better than the last eight years under the current president... Junior Bush.

In Canada, for example, the CIA numbers suggest the median voting age is around 49. If you are 49 from Canada, you've been able to vote since around 1977. That's 8 federal elections, all of which had more than 2 parties-- and several new and viable parties emerging during that time, with plenty of leaders coming and going.

The U.S. has had 7 federal elections. Each controlled by two parties. All of them with a Bush or a Clinton.

The U.S. system is a recipe for political apathy (not that the constant change in Canada is a better recipe against apathy [although it's certainly better for democracy]). Everyone 46 and under has seen the same old same old every election. It's supposed to be democracy. Looks a lot like a shared monarchy.

People have been talking about change in the U.S. for a long time--say 12 years or so-- but haven't been changing the people they send there.